HCMC - The Investigation and Security Agency under the Ministry of Public Security announced a decision on August 28 to prosecute and detain Hanoi chairman Nguyen Duc Chung over allegedly appropriating the State's secret files.

The police also raided Chung’s workplace and his residence in Trung Liet Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi. According to Major General To An Xo, office manager of the Ministry of Public Security, Chung is also being investigated for his involvement in accounting irregularities, money laundering and serious violations of bidding regulations at local firm Nhat Cuong Mobile and the Hanoi People’s Committee’s mismanagement of State assets and wastefulness. On August 11, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed a decision temporarily suspending Chung from his post in 90 days to verify his role in these cases. In late July, three people, including the chairman's driver Nguyen Hoang Trung, were detained and prosecuted over appropriating the State’s secret files related to Bui Quang Huy, general director of Hanoi-based Nhat Cuong Trading and Services Co., Ltd or Nhat Cuong Mobile, who has fled after being charged with trading in smuggled mobile phones and electronic devices. Chung was born in 1967 in Thang Long Commune, Kinh Mon District, Hai Duong Province. He had been leading the People’s Committee of Hanoi since December 4, 2015. Before that, he was director of the Hanoi Social Order-Related Crime Investigation Police Department and Hanoi Police Director.